Heated argument between Health Minister Mandaviya and DMK MPs over TN medical colleges

During the Question Hour in the Lok Sabha on Friday, a heated argument erupted between Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya and the DMK MPs over the question of medical colleges started by the Centre without infrastructure. Mandaviya alleged that DMK MPs were playing politics over the issue as the Centre had cracked down on some medical colleges running without proper infrastructure and faculty in the state.

DMK MP T R Baalu asked how many medical colleges had been started by the Centre without infrastructure and for how many medical colleges the Prime Minister had laid the foundation but they had not yet started functioning.

Mandaviya accused DMK of doing politics and said that they are misleading the people of the state regarding Madurai AIIMS. While studies have started there in AIIMS, now the question is only of infrastructure, work is also being done on this at a fast pace, said Mandaviya.

“I won’t allow such medical colleges to operate where there is no adequate faculty and infrastructure. Work is underway on establishing AIIMS Madurai. Please don’t make health an issue of politics,” said Health minister.

When the DMK members said the AIIMS Madurai is not ready, Mandaviya accused them of giving wrong information to the House and misleading the people. “Some people want to do politics on everything. I know why they are doing this as I have taken strong action against those medical colleges which don’t have faculty, infrastructure and patients. This is the reaction to that,” he asserted.

“Such illegalities will not be allowed by the Modi government. We will continue to take such strong action against delinquent medical colleges,” he said amidst strong protests by the DMK and Congress MPs.

However, strongly opposing Mandaviya’s statement, DMK MPs TR Balu, Dayanidhi Maran and Kanimozhi accused the minister of threatening the MPs.